Literally a Pain in the Butt

Lauren0216 · May 2016

Okay, I need to vent. My first pregnancy was textbook. No complications at all. This one has been so different. First I was told I had placenta previa and now this sweet LO is laying on my sciatic nerve. I just want to cry. It is literally the worst pain in the butt feeling with the pain sometimes shooting down my leg. Went to the Dr. and was told it is how she is laying and to just try some ice and Tylenol. I don't know about you ladies, but Tylenol does nothing for me. Has anyone experienced this before? I don't know if I should see a massage therapist, physical therapist, or chiropractor. The pain is so terrible that it's making it hard to walk let alone sit or do anything.

MRSCORKER · May 2016

Tylenol also does nothing for me. I would start with the chiropractor and go from there. Sorry you're going through this!

PrimRoseMama · May 2016

There is very little to be done sadly. If you have pool near by floating to take pressure off the nerve might encourage baby to move. I'm sorry. Cry if you need to cry. ((Hugs))

westcoastfoodie · May 2016

I feel your pain. Every night my butt cheeks KILL! I don't know if it's the same thing because it's literally just my butt cheeks lol and only at night. I think I'm going to try a chiropractor. Sorry you're going through this too!

wegme27 · May 2016

I'm right there with you. I had sciatica with my first but it started earlier this time. I try to get up at work and walk around about every 30 minutes or else it gets to the point where I can't hardly walk. It's horrible but unfortunately I don't think there's much you can do.

ibabyloveb87 · May 2016

I've got some sciatica too. I've found that sleeping with the snoogle has relieved a lot of it but I still get that awful pain a couple times a week. I've been meaning to ask my coworker who is also a certified yoga instructor if she knows any stretches or anything that's helpful and also safe for pregnancy. If she has any ideas, I will be glad to share/try to explain!

k2k2tog · May 2016

I had sciatica with my first and it was incredibly painful. I always found it worse in the evenings, when I would put my feet up and then try to stand up again. I would almost fall in the 9 steps it took to get from my couch to the bathroom because it was so bad. I've felt a few twinges of it here and there since, but I'm not looking forward to it hitting with a real vengeance again.

jrussell16 · May 2016

*Lurking from Nov 16*

I posted something similar on our BMB a few weeks ago when I couldn't stand the pain anymore. Three weeks later and it's almost completely gone. I highly recommend the Snoogle. It's amazing and really helps with the pain. I've also been seeing a chiropractor and physical therapist 2x a week each for the last 3 weeks. It's been very time consuming but it's made a HUGE difference. They have both also given me a lot of good stretches and exercises to continue to do throughout the pregnancy to try to keep the pain away. Good luck!

Lauren0216 · May 2016

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate all the feedback. Hope those of you suffering too find some comfort soon!

LGW2015 · May 2016

I have sciatica all the time, of course made worse by this pregnancy. Unfortunately there's not much you can do as the nerve lies too deep in the back to be affected by ice and medicine like Tylenol isn't going to help

the only thing my dr recommended was going on your hands and knees on the living room floor for about 30 minutes and let your belly hang to relieve some of the pressure off of the nerve. But it's only temporary relief.

strickland8052 · May 2016

Acupuncture could also help. You may be able to find community acupuncture in your area for a low price. I haven't had sciatica pain, but it has helped relieve so many other symptoms for me.

lindzsers · May 2016

I suffered from sciatica pre-pregnancy and one yoga pose that really helped me was pigeon. It also opens the hips up and just generally feels good. Have you considered massage? I've found a great masseus, and luckily she is also trained in pre-natal, and when she's done with me I feel like a new person. I hope you find some relief soon!

Sprinkels28 · May 2016

I also recommend acupuncture. I have found that it has helped within 2-4 sessions.

NoraAurora · May 2016

First, I have to reiterate how very inappropriate it is for doctors to tell you that you have placenta previa before 20 weeks pregnant (unless of course you've had symptoms like bleeding). Almost all pregnancies have a low lying placenta which almost always moves away from the cervix by 20 weeks (and 95%+ of cases move in 3rd trimester).

Second, I'm sorry to hear that you're in so much pain. You can tell your OB that it's affecting your sleep and daily activities, and they can prescribe physical therapy, chiro, acupuncture, massage, or medication stronger than tylenol. You don't have to needlessly suffer. A PP recc'd a snoogle which is also worth a shot.

Good luck.

samkins · May 2016

There are stretches you can do ... I started with sciatica pretty early on and some terrible tailbone pain. They help some but temporarily and I love the heating pad, my hubby also rubs the giant knot that develops right on the nerve, It hurts so bad but it helps. I started prenatal yoga just to find better stretches and exercises for the pain, but I honestly think we are screwed.

nsquaredlife13 · May 2016

Yes!!! I've had this since about 10 weeks. My last pregnancy it occurred closer to 32 weeks but was only really an issue when I slept. I went to a prenatal chiropractor who really helped. At work I sat on a yoga ball chair like in the photo below. Massages helped too.

Image: https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81-aqX4DcHL._SL1500_.jpg

nsquaredlife13 · May 2016

Wow... that image is WAY bigger than it was on my computer.

jeng100 · May 2016

I have this too

it happened late in my last pregnancy, and I have it again this time. This time around I went into the pregnancy with a herniated disc pressing on my sciatic nerve. I feel your pain, it's awful. And no, Tylenol does not help. I see a chiro regularly which does help some, but it doesn't take away the pain completely. Also, try using a foam roller on your butt/hip area. It helps give some immediate relief. I also have a lacrosse ball that I roll around on my butt cheek while sitting which really helps. My doctor ok'd a muscle relaxer for me on days that I just can't stand it too. You have my sympathies! Oh, I also bought a huge back and belly pillow to sleep with. It makes getting comfortable at night so much easier with the pain.

booksandicecream · May 2016

Sorry, slightly rude comment here, but chiropractors are one of my MAJOR pet peeves. There are some really good ones but unfortunately the field has become a haven for people who wanted to be doctors but were too quack for an MD. ALSO, the spine changes during pregnancy so make sure the chiropractor is qualified to treat pregnant women!!

allthingscozy · May 2016

Lurking from July

I have been suffering from this same pain most of my pregnancy. My OB referred me to physical therapy and using a si loc belt and it has helped so much. I still get the pain but the stretches I have learned, You can find them if you search for piriformis stretches on Google, have definitely helped it dull to go away. I also highly reccomend using a tennis ball sitting/ placing it on the tight and sore spots and holding it for 15/30 seconds or rolling over it repeatedly also can help release tension and the nerve.

Baths with Epsom salts as well. Hope you can all find relief. Oh and I have definitely seen a correlation to not drinking enough water and the pain too.

NoraAurora · May 2016

books&icecream said:

Sorry, slightly rude comment here, but chiropractors are one of my MAJOR pet peeves. There are some really good ones but unfortunately the field has become a haven for people who wanted to be doctors but were too quack for an MD. ALSO, the spine changes during pregnancy so make sure the chiropractor is qualified to treat pregnant women!!

can't +1 this enough

AChristy2009 · May 2016

I have also recently started feeling the same symptoms. My first pregnancy was easy peasy ! This pregnancy has been a littls different. Im a bartender and server, constantly on my feet. Last night I was close to tears ! Good Luck Mommas !

lmno304 · May 2016

Pregnant with twins here so sciatic pain is a horrible side effect of these two babies. I talked to my dr about it yesterday at my appointment and she gave me a couple stretches to do that have REALLY helped, so i hope they can help y'all too.

First is the classic butterfly stretch, sitting in bed (or on the floor if you can manage to get back up) with the soles of your feet touching in front of you. Don't worry about how far you can pull your feet up to you, just as much as you can, and lean forward and rock to each side. Trust me, you'll feel it.
Second is standing in front of a surface about hip height and putting the outer side of your thigh and knee against the table in front of you. Again, lean forward and rock to the sides. She stressed having something nearby to help you balance.
She did give me another one but it's kind of hard to describe so bear with me. While standing, roll your back and shoulders forward, kind of like a gorilla, and stretch your back side to side while maintaining the position. Basically it stretches your back against the forward pull pregnancy causes. This really seems to be the only viable option once you get 3rd trimester size.

Lauren0216 · May 2016

Update: The baby finally moved off my nerve! I did a ton of stretches each day and rocked on all fours for a half an hour to try to get the pressure off my back. It was amazing how I just instantly no longer felt that pain. I hope that everyone experiencing the same thing feels relief soon too!!!

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